Ever put in a CD for the first time not expecting any fireworks from the music contained within and find yourself surprisingly blown away by it? That's how it was for me the first time I listened to Laura Nyro's Laura: Live At The Bottom Line. Now, my expectations weren't low because I had some lukewarm opinion about the artist in question.
Oh no, Nyro was one of the more original, innovative composers of American pop music of the last forty years or so. It's just that it didn't seem this record would have much going for it. First of all, Nyro's rep is as a songwriter, not a live performer. Secondly, artists who were great in the 60's and 70's generally didn't fare so well in the 80's (Hall & Oates and a few others being notable exceptions). And lastly, the setting is in a relatively small club with a small band consisting of musicians whose names I don't recognize.
Admittedly, I knew almost nothing about Nyro herself until well into my adult life. But I was well acquainted with several of her songs by the time I was in the first grade. My dad played records by the 5th Dimension that contained "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Wedding Bell Blues", while Blood Sweat & Tears had a radio hit with "And When I Die." And my brothers and I had the Three Dog Night single "Eli's Coming" (how we got that record I have no idea). Yeah, I was pretty young back then, but so was Nyro; she wrote all of those songs at around the precious age of 20.
So you may already have an idea of her music. It's got a lot of soul, with dashes of folk, jazz and even Broadway showtune occasionally thrown in for good measure. Sometimes she can be confused with Joni Mitchell or Carole King, even though she slightly preceded them both as stars. Todd Rundgren has built much of his solo career around trying to duplicate the intricate, yet sweet-sounding melodies that was this lady's stock in trade.
But none of that makes a great live record. What does is a tight band, great arrangements, good vocals (supported superbly by Diane Wilson), song selection and good rapport with the audience. It's all here. Laura speaks to her crowd in the appropriate spots but doesn't ramble and sometimes even blends it with the songs (her band introductions were seamlessly performed in the middle of "Companion") and she always seemed to be in command of the proceedings without ever exerting a heavy hand over it. The band provides great support; they're rendering her songs the way she intends for them to be rendered and never even threaten to overtake her. And their sound doesn't sound like 1988 at all; it's a pretty timeless feel, actually. The one quibble I have about the whole record, though, is that they're not really given a chance to stretch out at all even though they hint of those capabilities. As a result, some of the songs seem to end a bit too early.
Article comments
1 - S Peterkin
Eva Cassidy died of Melanoma on Nov 2, 1996 at age 33 not as your writing states from Ovarian Cancer. Otherwise, a great write-up of Laura, who like Eva Cassidy, will always be remembered as one of the biggest talents America had to offer during that time. Anyone interested in more information on Eva Cassidy should check the wonderful site maintained by her cousin, Laura Bligh.
2 - J. P. Spencer
A friend of mine recently gave me a Laura Nyro songbook containing all the songs on her first four albums. The friend knew I was a fan and the friend that gave it to her didn't know who Laura was, which is borderline tragic. I can't think of anyone around today that puts an effort into make songs sound as good as Laura's songs.
3 - Pico
S Peterkin--
Yup, I had that one coming. I inserted the Eva Cassidy reference at the last minute because I realized that anyone who like Eva's music would likely also like Laura's (even though one was a master interpreter and the other a master composer). What I meant to convey was that they both died of cancer in the general sense, not the same kind of cancer. Chaulk it up to laziness, here.
Anyway, thanks for the positive comments; both of these women left behind some great music and their untimely passing was a big loss to us all.
J.P. Spencer--
"I can't think of anyone around today that puts an effort into make songs sound as good as Laura's songs. "
I'm probably biased because I'm a baby boomer, but that's what I think, too.
-P
4 - Char
I think Laura Nyro was a GREAT composer and I really enjoyed her music. As one who was hellbent on Aretha Franklin, The Temptations and other 60's Motown music -- Nyro's music jumped out at me as something different. As a fellow-NewYorker, I appreciated her R&B/Jazzy/Rock styles that made her famous. I hope more people will begin to appreciate her melodic (Emmily) and rough ride (Eli's Coming) sounds and I wish she was hear to receive the nods she so deserves.
5 - Pico
Amen, Char, amen.
-P
6 - nyrize
Laura Nyro was the best musician ever...top for me and she will always remain in my heart...what a voice she had.